Showing posts with label rejects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rejects. Show all posts

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Judge rejects motion to hold HPD Chief Charles McClelland in contempt of court

See it on TV? Check here. HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Now for the latest on the trial of a Houston police officer accused of beating a teenage burglary suspect. On Wednesday, jurors got the chance to see part of the beating from a different angle.

Jurors got a chance to see video of the crime scene from a police helicopter as the defense called several officers to the stand. But the big story in the courtroom was Andrew Blomberg's defense team asking the judge to cite the police chief with contempt of court.

As Day 5 of Blomberg's official oppression trial continued, the jury got a chance to see this shaky police helicopter video of the moments before officers kicked and stomped teenage burglary suspect Chad Holley.

However, the accused former Houston police officer's defense team spent part of the morning focused on asking the judge to hold Police Chief Charles McClelland in contempt of court. And it's all over an article that appeared in Wednesday's local paper. It included statements the chief gave about Blomberg and other accused officers moments after the chief left the witness stand on Tuesday.

"I'm not saying I would disagree that Blomberg should be charged with a felony. I'm just saying that the specific statute, the way that it reads, it makes it very, very difficult," McClelland said.

Blomberg's defense lawyer Dick Deguerin called the police chief's statements outside the courtroom inappropriate. He asked the judge to cite McClelland for publicly calling for a conviction in the middle of trial.

On Tuesday, McClelland told us "I've certainly been open and transparent, and want Mr. Blomberg prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

On Wednesday, prosecutors reminded the judge there is no gag order in this case. During the afternoon the city attorney was called to the courtroom on the police chief's behalf.

"The discussion, just in general terms, is whether or not he had any particular restrictions on him, with respect to who he could speak to, about what once he left the courtroom," Houston City Attorney David Feldman said.

At this time, it's still unclear whether the judge will have a hearing about Chief McClelland's statements. For now, Blomberg's defense attorneys are continuing to call other witnesses.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Saturday, March 17, 2012

Federal judge rejects Liberty County judge's plea deal

  BEAUMONT, TX (KTRK) -- We have a major update in a story broken by 13 Undercover. A federal judge in Beaumont rejected a plea agreement between the US government and the former Liberty County judge.

You'll remember Phil Fitzgerald was named in a 27-count indictment after 13 Undercover helped expose details of an alleged bribery-kickback scheme involving a Hurricane Ike debris contract.

In October, Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to a felony with the understanding he would serve 36 months probation and pay a $75,000 fine.

On Friday, in a rare move, the judge in the case rejected that plea deal, likely sending the case to trial.

You can read much more about this in the Cleveland Advocate, our Houston Community Newspaper partner online. We want to thank them for their help in reporting this story.

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Judge rejects request to delay Stanford trial

See it on TV? Check here.A federal court hearing for alleged ponzi schemer R. Allen Stanford begins today to determine if he is competent to stand trial. A federal court hearing for alleged ponzi schemer R. Allen Stanford begins today to determine if he is competent to stand trial.

AP  HOUSTON -- A federal judge has rejected a request by disgraced financier R. Allen Stanford that his trial be postponed.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner's ruling Wednesday denied a motion by Stanford's attorneys for a continuance until April. The ruling means jury selection will begin Jan. 23.

Stanford has been jailed since being charged in 2009 with bilking investors out of $7 billion in a massive Ponzi scheme.

Hittner's ruling said Stanford has adequate legal representation and that the need for a speedy trial is particularly acute because of the thousands of investors affected.

Hittner ruled last week that Stanford is competent to stand trial. That ruling came after a three-day hearing in which Stanford's attorneys argued that a traumatic brain injury and other disorders prevented him from assisting in his defense.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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